Madhya Pradesh govt offices buzz again after 38 days

The ministries located in Satpura Bhawan and Vindhyachal Bhavan in Bhopal have resumed office from today. For now, only 30 per cent of the staff have been allowed to work from offices, while the rest have been asked to work from home due to lockdown.

Bhopal: Work resumed in key government offices here on Thursday just four days before the second phase of the lockdown ends in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. For now, only 30 per cent of the staff have been allowed to work from offices, while the rest have been asked to work from home.

The staff members who reached the office on Thursday after 38 days were examined for temperature and primary symptoms for any ailment. The elaborate process took almost 45 minutes before they could make it to their seats and start functioning.

Some officers said it was like working in the familiar office in quite unfamiliar conditions. The ministries located in Satpura Bhawan and Vindhyachal Bhavan that were closed due to the lockdown started functioning from Thursday.

Since March 23, all government employees in the state are working from home. Only officers and employees associated with essential services are reaching the office. All the offices have been instructed to follow the guidelines of the Centre, sanitise the office regularly and provide sanitiser and hand wash to the employees. The entry of drivers in the ministry has been restricted.

The guideline for work includes adherence to social distancing, wearing of masks, while on way to and from the office, all employees will undergo thermal scanning. Outsiders will be banned. Gutkha, tobacco and food will be banned in the offices.

At meetings, officers will sit at least 6 feet apart. Depending on the capacity in the lift, only up to four people were allowed.

The state government has started working on phased relaxation of the lockdown. However, capital Bhopal, the worst affected town Indore and other red zone areas like Ujjain and Jabalpur would be under watch before a phased lifting of lockdown restrictions. The Orange and Green zones could be allowed longer spells of relaxations.

In 25 districts of the Green Zone, activities will be increased in rural areas as well as urban areas. There is a plan to increase manpower from 33 to 50 per cent in offices and factories. The decision on the opening of schools, colleges, coaching classes, religious places, marriage halls, cinema, shopping malls, bus stands, liquor shops and large markets will be taken only after May 3.

There will be a review of the situation in Dhar, Khargone and Hoshangabad districts on May 3 before the government takes a call on lockdown relaxation.

(IANS Report)